Adjustable cutting instrument



April 22,1930. 0. M. BRATRUD ADJUSTABLE CUTTING INSTRUMENT Filed July 5,1927 INVENTOR 0H0 MflPaiPll Z ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 22, 1932 PATENTOFFICE OTTO BRATBUD, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON ADJUSTABLE cu'r'rmeINSTRUMENT Application filed July 5, 1927. Serial No. 203,556

My invention relates to and has for a purpose the provision of a simple,practical, and durable instrument by which the manual manipulation of ablade in the cutting or 6 scraping of any article is greatlyfacilitated.

It is also a purpose of my invention to provide a cutting instrument inwhich the blade is provided with two cutting edges either of which maybe presented for use and adjustable to expose more or less of'thecutting edge to suit the particular purpose for which it is being used.

I will describe only one form of adjustable cutting instrument embodyingmy invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in theclaims. 2

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a view showing in side elevation one form of cuttinginstrument embodying my invention.

Figs. 2 and 8 are views in side elevation, and Fig. 4- a perspectiveview of the main parts of the instrument shown in Fig. 1 disconnectedfrom each other.

prises a casing including a relatively long tubular section M, and ashort section M, the two sections being detachably connected to eachother by the provision of a tubular extension 15 011 the section M whichis exteriorly threaded for engagement within a threaded portion 16 ofthe section M, all as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5. The section M istubular in part to provide a chamber 18, the remainder of the sectionbeing solid with the exception of a slot 17 which communicates with thechamber to receive a blade B carried by a holder H and in such mannerthat Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken one end of the blade canproject from the free end of the casing section. This end of the sectionconstitutes the working end of the casing and as shown in Figs. 1, 4 and5 it is tapered in form to facilitate operation of the blade in cuttingor scraping.

As shown in Fig. 7 the blade B has oblique end edges which are sharpenedto provide cutting edges as indicated at 19 and 19 respectively. Betweenits ends the blade is provided with an opening 20 for receiving a pin 21on the flat side 22 of a shank 23, the latter constituting part of theholder H. The holder also includes a head 24 on the upper end of theshank 23,and extending upwardly from such head is a sleeve 25'interiorly' threaded to receive the threaded portion-of a rod 26. Therod is provided with a cap 27 by which the rod can be rotated in onedirection or the other to effect a longitudinal adjustment of the holderH as a unit within the casing to vary the projected position of theblade B. r i

As clearly shown in Fig. 5, the cap 27 is provided with a knurledportion 27 which is adapted to be gripped in eifectingrotation of thehead. It is locked against displacement from the casing section M by theprovision of an annular groove 28 therein in which is seated an annularbead 29 formed in the casing section by instriking the latter.

With the parts of the instrument assembled as illustrated in Figs. 1 and5, the head 24 and the sleeve 25 are disposed within the section M,while the shank 28 projects into the chamber 18 to hold the blade Bextended into the slot 17. It is important to note that the shank 23 isformed with an oblique shoulder 23 against which one cutting edge isadapted to bear in order that the blade may be properly positionedto'move longitudinally within the slot 17 By rotating the cap 27 theblade holder H is moved in one direction-or the other within the casingthereby effecting longitudinal adjustment of the blade B so that thecutting edge presented to the working end of the casing can be projectedany desired distance within the range of adjustment of the holder. Itwill be understood that movement of the holder H in either'directionimparts a corresponding movement to the blade B through the operativeconnection provided between the two by the pin 21. This operativeconnection is maintained at all times by virtue of the longitudinalalignment of the flat side 22 of the shank in respect to the slot17whereby the blade is at all times engaged by the pin.

By forming the blade B with the two cutting edges 19 and 19 and mountingthe-blade on the holder H as described, it is possible to reverse theblade on the mounting to present either cutting edge to the working endof the casing so that when one cutting edge becomes dull the other canbe employed. It is to be noted that the working end of the casing islikewise formed with an oblique edge so that the supporting surfaceprovided thereby with respect to the blade may be parallel to thecutting edge thereby minimizing the possibility of breaking the bladeduring use, and particularly when scraping. By reason of the readydetachability of the casing sections from each other, the facility withwhich the blade B can be rversed or a new blade substituted will beapparent. The casing in practice will be of a diameter slightly exceeling that of a pencil or pen so that it can be carried in thepecket, andto retain the instrument against accidental displacement from thepocket, a conventional'clip 30 is secured to the section M. 7

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of adjustablecutting instrument embodying my invention, it to be understood thatvarious changes and modifications may be made herein withoutdepartingfrom the spirit of the invention and the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims.

I claim:

. 1. A cutting instrument comprisinga casing, a holder withinthe'casing, a blade carried by the holder and adapted to project fromthe casing, a threaded sleeve on the holder, a threaded rodengaging thesleeve, and means rotatable in the casing for actuating'therod to effectan adjustment oithe holder through the medium of said sleeve whereby anadjustment-of the blade is secured, the holder including a shank havinga flat side against which said blade bears, and a pin projecting fromthe flat-side. of the shank and engaging the blade for sec-uring' thelatter to the shank.

2. A cutting instrument comprising a casing, a holder within the casing,a blade carried'by the holder and adapted to project from the casing, athreaded sleeve on the holder, a threaded rod engaging the sleeve, andmeans rotatable in the casing for actuating the rod to effect anadjustment of the holder through the medium of said sleeve whereby anadjustment of the blade is secured, the blade having two cutting edgesand being mounted on the holder to permit reversal thereof so thateither cutting edge can be projected from the casing.

3. A cutting instrument comprising a casing, a holder in the casing, ablade carried by the holder and adapted to project from the casing, andmeans operable from apoint exteriorly of the casing for actuatin theholder to effect an adjustment of the blade whereby its cutting edge canbe projected various distances-from the casing, the holder including ashankhaving a flat side against which said blade bears, and a pinprojecting from the fiat side oft-he shank and engaging the blade fordetachably securing the latter to the shank, the casing having anopening through which theblade projects, with the walls of the openingoperating to definitely guide-theblade and-maintain it in engagementwith the pin.

4. A cutting instrumentcomprising a casing composed of two sectionsdetachably connected to each other, one of the sections having a taperedend provided With-a slot, a blade holder having a head disposed withinthe ether casing section and ashank projecting into the first casingsection, said shank beingprovided with a flat side having a pin, a bladeextending into the slot and engaging. the hat side of the shank, saidblade having its opposite ends sharpened to provide cutting edgesandanopening'therein for receiving said'pin, an interiorly threadedsleeve on the head, an exteriorly threaded rod engaging within thesleeve, a cap on the'rod for rotating thelatter, and means for rotatablysecuring the cap within the casing. A

OTTO M. BRATRUD.

